Google says ‘Holo’ theme required by vendors that want Android Market access in Android 4.0

One of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich’s most noticeable new features is the “Holo” theme, a set of UI widgets and design elements baked right into the operating system that give it a unique look. The Holo theme also provides a set of visual elements that help developers to create apps and widgets that will have a unified look and feel. Google is so proud of this new theme that the company has made the inclusion of an unmodified Holo theme a compatibility requirement for vendors that want access to the Android Market on their devices. Google is looking to give Android a more unified look, while still supporting manufacturer skins and helping more devices update more quickly. Themes such as Samsung’s TouchWiz, HTC’s Sense UI and Motorola’s MOTOBLUR interface can still be included on devices, however these themes cannot alter default widgets or other elements as much as they do now.

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